So what's the verdict on COS so far? I'd have thought a piece of pocket-fluff would be preferable to Brunel by the end of his tenure but a lot of people had high hopes for Conor beyond that, how's he doing?

So what's the verdict on COS so far? I'd have thought a piece of pocket-fluff would be preferable to Brunel by the end of his tenure but a lot of people had high hopes for Conor beyond that, how's he doing?

There have been ups and downs, but I think he is on the right track, here's an interesting article from him on the Pro14 website where he discusses the early season success of Benetton and Zebre:

Italian clubs have been going pretty well, some impressive results given the available resources. There are some very good and very, very powerful players in the Fiji squad, I think it would be a good result to secure that win first of all. Argentina and South Africa may have too much talent though, but it all starts with that first game.

Okay. Italy U20 in Round 1 managed a 15-27 result vs England, one of the best U20 sides in the world. And tonight, despite being down a redcarded player apparently the whole match, they actually managed a 38-34 result vs Ireland, IN Ireland.

What the hell is up with the Italian youngsters, how have they become this competitive so fast ?

Okay. Italy U20 in Round 1 managed a 15-27 result vs England, one of the best U20 sides in the world. And tonight, despite being down a redcarded player apparently the whole match, they actually managed a 38-34 result vs Ireland, IN Ireland.

What the hell is up with the Italian youngsters, how have they become this competitive so fast ?

Italy looked pretty good. Yes indeed if they didn’t lose a man they might have won. I was impressed by their 13. Best back on the pitch.

Okay. Italy U20 in Round 1 managed a 15-27 result vs England, one of the best U20 sides in the world. And tonight, despite being down a redcarded player apparently the whole match, they actually managed a 38-34 result vs Ireland, IN Ireland.

What the hell is up with the Italian youngsters, how have they become this competitive so fast ?

How do you conclude that England is one the best U20 sides in the world? They have only played two matches

I think for the first time in a while, there's a genuine sense Italy rugby is making alot of improvements, what's going on at the lower levels Tafano and Sturg?

Alot of work with kids going on?

There’s an academy system that finally hatch its talents,After decades of mediocrity.Well that sistem has been recently chanced again, so I don’treally know what is goin on at U18 U16 (etc...) level.

Here around Milan a lot of teams have born, full of age grade teams, maybe an old team with the parents or a senior touch team, but not all have a Senior team.

When I was a child I never even heard the wordrugby, now my 12 years old daughter have a lot of friendsplayin.It’s funny cause I’m the only guy they know outside their team that “once played rugby”so they ask me tons of questions.Italy needs to Tweak the academy system, improve the trainers’ skills,cause the base is there and it’s growing.

But it has a really different taste this time IMHO.Last year Italy was abysmal, bar the first half against Wales, France and some moments here and there, maybe.This time we were abysmal in the first half against Ireland and in the last 15 minutes against all the rest.

We had flashes of excellence, we showed we can really play a more open rugby and be dangerous, we scored a lot of tries,11 with our backs + 1 penalty try.Our defence paid almost the same heavy toll as last year but with only 2 matches at home but almost doubled the point made and doubledthe tries scored.

We found some very promising youngster in Negri, Minozzi, Polledri, some needs more time, Licata, Mbandà, Bisegni, Bellini and all the young front rowersSome cemented their place, like Allan, Violi, Budd, Castello.Some were not up to it like Boni and Giammarioli, but time is on their side.Parisse has to be VERY SADLY overlooked if his form doesn't come back.Maybe we should try Licata Polledri and Negri togheter.

But it has a really different taste this time IMHO.Last year Italy was abysmal, bar the first half against Wales, France and some moments here and there, maybe.This time we were abysmal in the first half against Ireland and in the last 15 minutes against all the rest.

We had flashes of excellence, we showed we can really play a more open rugby and be dangerous, we scored a lot of tries,11 with our backs + 1 penalty try.Our defence paid almost the same heavy toll as last year but with only 2 matches at home but almost doubled the point made and doubledthe tries scored.

We found some very promising youngster in Negri, Minozzi, Polledri, some needs more time, Licata, Mbandà, Bisegni, Bellini and all the young front rowersSome cemented their place, like Allan, Violi, Budd, Castello.Some were not up to it like Boni and Giammarioli, but time is on their side.Parisse has to be VERY SADLY overlooked if his form doesn't come back.Maybe we should try Licata Polledri and Negri togheter.

There some talent coming from the U20.

I think this has been a different 6 nations for Italy.

11 tries scored. As another poster remarked on another site - numbers matter,As we are basically at par with the tries scored by all other teams bar Ireland...And the quality of those tries!

Also, our Test against Ireland at Soldier Field in Chicago has been confirmed for the 3rd of November. Whilst I'm sure that this is a boost to the FIR's finances, I am not convinced that a transatlantic flight and a tough match against Ireland is such a good idea a week before a must win match against Georgia?